vandemark



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A.. B. VANDEMARK.

STREET SWBBPBR.

Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

WITNESSES I f By Jv/ .d tor-neg.

1N: Noms Pneus ce., novo-muc., msnm-.mm n. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. B. VANDBMARK.

STREET SWEEPER.

No. 483,702. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

INV ENTO R I Mx@ @7, @MQW/@41,

WlTNESSES /.Idl ly" .Attorney (No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 3.

A. B. VANDEMARK. STREET SWEBPBR.

No. 483,702. y Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

' INVENTOR:

WITNESSES; Muga/ dem?, f

Mb.. Homey rn: onlus ravens co., no1-mmm., msumuron n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHIBALD B. VANDEMARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STREET-SWEEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,702, dated October 4, 1892. Application filed February 8, 1892. Serial No. 420,674.. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern. i

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD B. VANDE- MAnK, a citizen of the United States, and a resldent of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Street-Dirt Loaders, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to the class of dirtloaders wherein the loader when drawn along sweeps the dirt up into an inclined chute or way, in which it is carried upward by an endless conveyer and discharged into a cart or wagon, to which the loader is coupled.

My invention will be fully described hereinafter, and its novel features carefully defined in the claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate the invention7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loader embodying my improvements. Some of the parts are represented as broken away in order to better show the mechanism behind. Fig. 1fl is a fragmentary1 section taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line lZL in Fig. l. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the loader, partly broken away for purposes of illustration. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the disengaging-lever detached. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detached views,on a larger scale, of the disengaging-gear and mechanism. Figs. 7 and 8 are detached views on the same scale as Fig. 4 of the drawing-links which couple the axle to the loader.

A is the frame of the loader, B the tongue for coupling the loader to a cart or wagon, and C the ground-wheels, mounted rotatively on a suitable axle, on which the frame A is mounted. Fixed in the frame A is an inclined chute or way D, which comprises a bottom d, sides of, one of which is represented in Fig. 1 as partly broken away to disclose the interior of the chute, and a cover d2, also represented in Fig. 2 as partly broken away. This cover d2 has in it, as here shown, a door d3 to afford access to the chute from above. Within the chute D is arranged an endless conveyer, which consists of a series of iiights e, secured to two endless chains e', mounted on a pai rof sprocket-wheels c2 on a shaft e3 at the upper end of the chute and on a similar pair of sprocket-wheels e4 on a shaft e5 at the lower end of the chute. In order thatthe conveyor may not become choked or stalled,

as will be explained more fully hereinafter, the upper conveyor shaft e3 is rotatively mounted in a pair of arms e, pivoted to the sides of the chute at e7, and the lower conveyor-shaft e5 is rotatively mounted ina pair of arms e8, pivoted to the sides of the chute at e9. The ground-wheel C is broken away in Fig. l to show the arms e8 the more clearly. The conveyor is driven from the groundwheel through the medium of a toothed wheel-rim E, secured to and concentric with the grou nd-wl1eel, a pinion F, gearing with said wheel-rim and fixed on a shaft f, mounted rot-atively in bearings in the frame of the loader, a sprocket-wheel f (see Fig. 2) on said shaft f, a sprocket-wheel f2 on the upper conveyer-shaft c3, and a chain f3 on the said sprocket-wheels. At the lower rear end of the chute, rather near the ground-level, is fixed a shoe D', and on the bosses of the bearings which support the lower conveyer-shaft e5 in the arms es are fixed laterally-arranged wings cw, which are arranged just within the sides of the chute and form Haring prolongations of the same.

G is the rotary broom, the shaft g of which is rotatively mounted in bearings g in the ends of two drawing-links'gz. In the other ends of these links are eyes c3, which are fitted to the respective ends of the axle, which protrude through the hubs of the groundwheels and are secured by nuts in the usual manner. These links compel the broom to follow the loader, but permit it to be raised and lowered. The broom is driven from the wheel-rim E through the medium of a pinion I-I, loosely mounted on the broom-shaft and in gear with the teeth of the respective wheelrims E.

I-Iereinbefore I have only mentioned one wheel-rim E g but I prefer to employ two, one on each ground\vheel C, and to provide the broom with two pinions H and two sets of mechanism for disengaging said pinions. However, as these mechanisms are alike a minute description of one will suliice.

Normally the pinion I-I is in engagement with the broom through the medium of a ratchet on the latter in such a manner that when the ground-wheels are rotating forward they drive the broom, rotating it in a direction opposite to the ground-wheels, thus caus IOO ing it to sweep the dirt into the lower open end of the chute D; but should either groundwheel rotate backward the ratchet on the broom will permit the pinion II in that side to rotate without interfering with the proper rotation of the broom. Provision is also made for dsengaging the pinion from the broom whenthe latteris lifted. These mechanisms I will now describe with especial reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In Figs. 4 and 5, the former of which shows a fragment of the broom and a pinion H in section and the latter of which shows a fragment of theend of the broom, I have only represented the segments g4, which receive the tufts, and have omitted the latter as tending only to obscure these figures. On the circular end frame of the drum is formed a ratchet g5, the teeth of which are engaged by shiftabledriving-studs h, (one 'or more, but preferably two,) carried bythe pinion H. These studs h are fixed to and project from a cross-piece h', having a grooved boss h2, mounted rotatively on the boss of the pinion II. The studs 7i form, practically, a part of the piece h', and when in position, as seen in Fig. 4t, they playin and through apertures in the pinion-arms andengage the teeth of the ratchet on the drum. Fig. 6 is a face view of the cross-piece h with its studs detached from the pinion. The drivingstuds h are held up into engagement with the ratchet-teeth by means of a forked elbow-lever ha, the forked end of which engages the grooved boss h2, and a spring h4, coupled at one end to the elbow-lever and at the other end to the broom-shaft. The eibowlever 71.3 linds a fulcrum-bearing in a liftinglink t', in which the broom-shaft finds a bearing and which is coupled by a chain or other suspender t" from a hook in a laterally-bent short branch t2 of the broom-lifting lever I. This lever is xed to a rockshaft t3, which has bearings in the frame A, and is provided at its other end with the short arm of a lifting-lever similar to the lever I. This con-v struction permits of lifting both ends of the broom simultaneously with one lever. On the lever I is mounted a counter-weight I to partly counterbalance the broom, and on the frame A is secured an upright retainer t4 for the lever when depressed and the broom raised, this retainer having in it a notch or notches to receive and hold said lever.

It is desirable that when the work of the broom is finished and it is raised off from the ground by the lever I it shall also be disengaged and thrown out of gear, so as not to r0- tate with the pinions I-I. This resultI accomplish by drawing back the studs h automatically by the act of lifting the broom, so that they will be out of engagement or gear with the ratchet-teeth on the broom and will be so held while the broom is in an elevated position. The mechanism I employ for this purpose consists of a short lever j, (see Fig. 4,) pivotally attached at j to the short laterallybent branch t? of the lever I, and coupled at one end to the yelbow-lever h3 by a chain or other connectorjz. The endjX of the leverj opposite to that where the chain'j2 is attached is so arranged with respect to a projecting part a of the frame A that in the operation of lifting the broom from the ground by the aid of the lever I after the broom has been raised free from the ground the end jx of the lever j catches under the detent a, and in the further upward movement of the lever I the fulcrum of leverj is carried upward. This has the eect to impart an upward pull on the outer. end of the elbow-lever h3, causing its forked extremity to draw back the studs.

h out of gear with the ratchet on the broom.

It will of course be understood that the dis- *engaging device just described is in duplicate,

as seen inIig. 2, one set of mechanism being provided for each pinion H. i

Fig. la shows a convenient mode of securiron axle.

For convenience in supporting the loader in proper position when not coupled to a cart, I pivot to the tongue B a leg b, and mount on the frame A a suitable hookl b to take over the upper end of said leg and hold it in an erect position, the leg above the tongue having a bearing against the frame A. This leg has, as here shown, a spring o2 to draw it up out of the way (see dotted lines in Fig. l) when the loader is in use.

The chains c of the conveyer may be the well-known link-belts, and the upper or return sides of the chains may be carried on idler sprocket-wheels e, mounted on the sides of the chute D. One of these idlers is clearly shown in Fig. l.

My loader is designed particularly for loading up street-dirt which has been swept into a ridge or row by the street-sweeper, and the operation will usually be as follows: The operator hooks the loader to his cart, gets into position, lowers his broom and drives on, following the line of the ridge of dirt. The broom sweeps the dirt up into the lower open end of the chute, where it falls on the inclined bottom of the chute and is carried up through the chute by the flights on the conveyer. The upper end of the chute D is provided with a downwardly-inclined supplementary chute D2, which directs the dirt down into the cart. Should the broom sweep into the chute some large objectsuch as an old boot or a can-- the sprocketwheels of the conveyer will rise to allow it to pass, their shafts being mounted in swinging arms (as before described) for this purpose. This is an important feature of my loader, as it provides against the clogging or choking of the conveyer. The shoe D will be elevated above the ground only sufficient to pass over the collected ridge of dirt to be swept up. After the cart is loaded it will be uncoupled and an empty cart conn .9o ployed for securing the wooden portion to an IOC] IIO`

that while the shoe D extends out well under the broom the frame A extends back over it, the latter thus serving to screen it above'and prevent the dust and dirt from being scattered about. The chute D is provided witha cover d2, also, in order to prevent the escape of flying dust and dirt when the loader is in operation. The lateral Wings el@ also prevent the escape of dirt laterally at the sweepingpoint.

The object in providing the drawing-links g2 with bearing-eyes g having screw-Shanks which screw into the ends of the links, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, is in part to permit of adjusting the pinions Hon the broom-shaft up to the wheel-rims E, so that their respective teeth will mesh properly, and in part to permit the ends of the broom to rise unequally to some extent Without binding at the journals.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a dirtloader, the combination, with the axle and ground-wheels, the inclined chute mounted thereomthe endless conveyer mounted in said chute and driven from the groundwheels, the broom rotatively mounted in drawinglinks pivoted to the said axles, and the gearing intermediate between the broom and ground-wheels, whereby the former is driven from the latter, of means for raising the broom and a disengaging mechanism operated automatically when the broom is raised for disengaging the gearing which drives the broom, substantiallyY as set forth.

2. In a dirt-loader, the combination, with an inclined chute having a close stationary bottom d and sides d', of the endless conveyer mounted therein and having shafts at its upper end, the lower ends being provided with sprocketwheels which carry the conveyerchains, said shafts being adapted to rise each independently of the other at their bearings and thus permit the passage of large obJects carried up by the conveyer-iiights.

3. The combination of the rotativelymounted broom, the pinion H, mounted loosely on the broom-shaft, the ratchet g5 on the end frame of the broom, the grooved boss h2, arranged to slide on the hub of the pinion H and carrying studs h, which normally engage the ratchet g5 and which play in guide-apertures in the pinion, and means for operating said grooved boss for disengaging the studs h from the ratchet on the broom, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the broom mounted rotatively in arms,whereby it may be raised and lowered and said broom provided at its end with a ratchet g5, forming one member of a driving-clutch, and the other or sliding member of said clutch mounted rotatively on the broom-shaft and having a grooved boss, of the elbow-lever ha, having a fork `which 4 engages the groove in said boss, the lifting-link t, 1n which the lever ha is fulcrumed, a lifting and disengaging mechanism, substantially as described, coupled to one arm of said elbow-lever, and a spring for el'ecting the automatic engagement of the clutch,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the broom rotatively mounted in the lifting-link t', the said link, the clutch device, the sliding member of which is operated by an elbow-lever h3, which is fiilcrumed in the link t', the said elbow-lever, the

broom-raising lever I, coupled to the link t',

the lever I7`,fulcrumed on the lever I and cou pled at one end to an arm of the elbow-lever h3, and the machine-frame having a projection in the path of the free end of the lever y,

'whereby when the broom is raised the shorter lever j engages said projection and disengages the clutch, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARCHIBALD B. VANDEMARK.

Witnesses:

HERBERT BLossoM, r GEO. B. DUNN. 

